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Seven facts for the 2017 NFL Draft
Several of the 2017 NFL Draft's top prospects have a chance to reverse trends or break new ground for their schools when they enter the league this week. Here are seven facts about the 2017 draft class:
Myles Garrett is likely to become the 16th defensive player in the common draft era to be selected No. 1 overall. Of the previous 15, less than half (7) were selected to a Pro Bowl in the NFL.
Based on combine measurables, Garrett is taller than Julio Jones (Garrett 6-4 1/2, Jones 6-2 3/4), heavier than Rob Gronkowski (Garrett 272 pounds, Gronkowski 264 pounds), quicker than Devonta Freeman (Garrett 1.63 seconds in 10-yard split, Freeman 1.66), and faster than Jarvis Landry (Garrett 4.64 seconds in 40-yard dash, Landry 4.77).
Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer is expected to come off the board in the early rounds of the 2017 Draft. Who was the last Notre Dame QB to be drafted and then post a winning record in the NFL? Joe Montana -- who went 117-47 after being selected in the third Round of the 1979 draft. Since then, seven Notre Dame QBs have been selected (Jimmy Clausen, Brady Quinn, Jarious Jackson, Rick Mirer, Steve Beuerlein, Blair Kiel and Rusty Lisch), but none had a winning record.
Excluding QBs, there have been 69 LSU offensive skill position players (running back, wide receiver, tight end) selected in the common draft era (since 1967). Leonard Fournette could become the first to be selected in the top 10.
O.J. Howard will likely become the first Alabama tight end selected in the top 50 in the common draft era (since 1967). The last time a Crimson Tide tight end even went in the top 100 was 1998, when Rod Rutledge went 54th overall to the Patriots.
Christian McCaffrey could become the first Stanford running back taken in the first round since "Touchdown" Tommy Vardell in 1992 (ninth overall to Browns). No Stanford player in the Super Bowl era has recorded a 1,000-yard rushing season in the NFL.
Washington's John Ross ran the 40-yard dash in 4.22 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest time of any player since 2003. There have been 18 wide receivers to run a sub-4.35 40-yard dash at the combine in that span (including Ross and Curtis Samuel this year). Only 3 of them recorded a 1,000-yard season in the NFL: Brandin Cooks, Mike Wallace, and John Brown.
